Standard Chartered And Plan Indonesia Support Efforts To Advance MSME Sector In Kupang

Photo: Special

KUPANG - To ensure equal business access for young people in Kupang, Standard Chartered Indonesia and the Plan International Indonesia Foundation (Plan Indonesia) held a Business Meet Up Event (business meeting) in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Thursday 5 October.

The event, which was held with the Futuremakers training participants, was also attended by representatives of government agencies, financial institutions, and various other stakeholders.

In this activity, as many as 80 out of the total number of more than 400 participants who have received MSME Craft training for a year with Plan Indonesia and implementation partners, Creatology by Du Anyam, show off their businesses in three groups of crafts, namely totebags, wovenness, and general craft products.

also practice attracting new markets through color competition mechanisms that are opened to the general public, with the basic ingredients of the totebags they produce themselves. All MSMEs Kriya training participants will have the same opportunity to show off their respective works, but will be carried out in stages.

Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Plan Indonesia, said that this business meeting aims to ensure that program participants get a real experience.

"One of the most important supports for young business actors is access to the market. So, Plan Indonesia always strives to make this opportunity open to every participant of the labor and entrepreneurship program for young people, including Futuremakers participants who are present today. Plan Indonesia hopes that this business meeting will be the beginning for young business people to be able to develop and compete in the East Nusa Tenggara market," said Dini at the opening of a business meeting in Kupang, NTT.

The efforts made by Futuremakers are in line with the potential for crafts in Kupang. In 2022, BPS Kupang noted, the investment value of the craft industry (gabus, woven goods from bamboo, rattan, and the like) in Kupang reached Rp43 billion.

Meanwhile, according to Sakernas 2022, there is a workforce of 224,422 people or 61.33 percent in Kupang City, with 56.08 percent of them working and 5.25 percent looking for work.

Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, who have coached young people aged 16-29 years in starting their own craft business, is appreciated by the provincial government of East Nusa Tenggara. Acting Governor of NTT, Ayodhia GL Kalake, said that Futuremakers and business meetings opened up new economic opportunities for the participants.

"The government appreciates Kupang youths who have struggled to hone their skills through this business meeting. Standard Chartered Indonesia and Plan Indonesia efforts also remind us all that we need to provide more optimal support so that young entrepreneurs can compete equally in the market," said Ayodhia.

Meanwhile, Diana Mudadani, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Indonesia & ASEAN Markets (AU, BN, PH), Standard Chartered, said this activity is clear evidence of sustainable economic empowerment carried out over the past year with Plan Indonesia.

"We give our appreciation to Futuremakers by Standard Chartered participants who have successfully learned and currently have the ability to create crafts and sell their business. We are very proud that this program has gone well, which cannot be separated from the support and cooperation of our partners, namely Plan Indonesia, and also other stakeholders. We hope this can be a good start to improve access to sustainable economic improvements for the younger generation, especially in Kupang," said Diana.

Diana added that the Futuremakers by Standard Chartered program is a global initiative launched in 2019 as a form of Bank's concern for the community around its operational location. Through the entrepreneurial pillar which is part of the Futuremakers program, Standard Chartered in collaboration with Plan Indonesia, to organize MSME Craft training for entrepreneurial projects in East Nusa Tenggara in 2022.

This program aims to support the improvement of the economic condition of young people in the post-COVID-19 era, including women and people with disabilities, in the region. The program worth 300 thousand US dollars (Rp4.3 billion) is funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation, with a target of supporting as many as 400 young participants, including 240 women and 100 people with disabilities, through job skills training and micro-business assistance.

In addition to this program, Futuremakers by Standard Chartered also run several other training programs in Indonesia that aim to support young people and women to improve their education, independence and level of life.